Zero-emission buses

New Flyer Xcelsior 40 buses charging on pantographs

Zero-emission buses
in service

As of Sept. 25, 2025

Thirty zero-emission buses (ZEBs) are now in service. These include:

Four brand new Nova LFSe+ buses
Twenty-two new ZEBs that went into service in early 2025, and
Four ZEBs from the 2022 pilot program

The electrification of our fleet is an important part of the City's Climate Change Master Plan.

Benefits

A ZEB fleet has the following benefits:

No pollution, no greenhouse gas emissions*footnote icon
Reduced operating costs
Lower noise pollution

Current and future orders

Starting in September 2025, we'll receive:

An additional 29 New Flyer Industries ZEBs
An additional 47 Nova Bus LFSe+ buses

Accessibility features:

Low floor (kneeling)
Retractable boarding ramp
Spaces for mobility devices
Clearer exterior signs
Improved interior info screens
Audiovisual announcements
Artificial vehicle sounds alert pedestrians that the bus is approaching

History and milestones

Converting our entire bus fleet to ZEBs is no easy feat. Here is a timeline of the key steps in this process:

2020

Climate Change Master Plan approved
2021

ZEB pilot kickoff
2022

First four ZEBs enter service

JUN 2023

Structural retrofit of St‑Laurent South Garage starts
AUG 2024

Electrical infrastructure upgrades of St‑Laurent South Garage begin
DEC 2024 – Q2 2025

22 New Flyer Industries XE40 ZEBs delivered

Pantographs — Overhead charging infrastructure at St‑Laurent South Garage

JAN 2025

First bus of New Flyer Industries delivery enters service
Q1 2025

First 4 Nova Bus LFSe+ delivered
Q2–Q4 2025

New electrical infrastructure including a substation
Q3 2025

Structural retrofit of St‑Laurent North Garage begins

New Flyer XE40 at St. Laurent Garage South

Q4 2025 – 2026
- + 29 New Flyer Industries XE40 ZEBs delivered
- + 51 additional Nova Bus LFSe+ buses delivered
2026
- + 124 ZEBs delivered
- Work at St‑Laurent North Garage complete
2027
- + 120 ZEBs delivered
- New parking garage opens at 1500 St‑Laurent

What’s a structural retrofit?

A structural retrofit prepares a garage for ZEB electrical infrastructure and ZEB parking/charging. This work involves:

New and improved sprinkler system
Replacement of trench drains
Localized concrete repairs
Fire separation
New lighting and overhead doors
Ceiling structure upgrades to support the weight of pantographs

For St‑Laurent South Garage, this work will take place in two phases. Phase 1 started in 2023 and finished in February 2024. Fifteen lanes were retrofitted (13 for bus parking and 2 for electrical charging equipment) during this phase. Phase two is from January 2025 to October 2025. Twelve lanes are being retrofitted (11 for bus parking and 1 for electrical charging equipment). None of these lanes are maintenance lanes. The are only for bus parking and charging.

What do electrical infrastructure upgrades entail?

Garage electrical infrastructure work involves:

Installing electrical rooms, charging cabinets, and pantographs
Cabling to connect ZEB charging equipment
Testing and commissioning to ensure the equipment works properly

Funding and sponsors

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada Government of Canada logo .

The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) invested $380 million with the ZEB program. This will help finance up to 354 ZEBs through 2027.

The CIB’s loan will go towards upfront costs of the buses. The lower operating costs of ZEBs compared to diesel buses cover the loan’s repayment.

Hydro Ottawa supplies energy and charging equipment through a separate agreement with the City.

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ZEB stories and explainers

A Day in the Life

Zero-Emission Bus

Join The Next Stop Blog and come behind the scenes to learn what a typical day is for one of our ZEBs and how they are transforming Ottawa’s transit system.

A Day in the Life of a Zero-Emission Bus: Read this story